FRASER Gunnery Range’s football team for the 1967 HMS Excellent Inter Departmental Knock-Out Competition included two of our own from the base’s Fleet Photographic Unit…Russ Whalley and Ray Pogson.

And when the competition reached its climax the two phots had their hands on a coveted cup winner’s medal.
Russ, pictured back row third from left, a stylish hard-tackling half back and ardent Stoke City supporter, went on to play for the Navy in Singapore, while Huddersfield Town fan Ray, on Russ’s right, played as a right footed left winger noted for his high crosses into the penalty area.

Excellent’s Ship’s Company team got through to the final first with a shock 2-0 defeat of a muscular Portsmouth Field Gun Crew, who trained on Whale Island, while FGR fought out a dire 0-0 draw in their semi-final and were awarded a place in the final on the toss of a coin due to time constraints making a replay impossible. Played the following day, the final was another cagey affair with both side cancelling each other out until late in the game when FGR electrical rating ‘Willie’ Holden, fortified by a pre-match tot, hammered the ball past a more than useful keeper to seal a hard-fought win.

For their final appearance the Fraser team were presented with a new all-white Bukta strip which bore the slogan: As Worn By Real Madrid – and the team celebrated late into the night like true champions over post match pints in the popular White House pub in Milton Road.

Sadly, Russ, a popular figure in the branch, passed away in February 2018, aged 76, while Ray, 82, still follows ‘The Terriers’ fluctuating fortunes from his home in South Yorkshire.

Ray receives his cup winner’s medal.

…and ‘Nick’ Nicholson holding the shield awarded to the champions of the competition!